Marine Turtles nesting at El_Mansouri, South Lebanon.

Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Conference on the Sea Turtles, Turkey 4-7 May 2005 (in press) MARINE TURTLE NESTING AT EL MANSOURI, SOUTH LEBANON Mona KHALIL (1), Habiba SYED (1), Monica AUREGGI (2), Lily VENIZELOS (3) (1) P.O. Box 19, Sour, Lebanon – MEDASSET Representative email: monahabiba@yahoo.co.uk (2) NAUCRATES, Via Corbetta, 11 – 22063 Cantu’ (CO) – Italy. naucrates12@tiscalinet.it (3) MEDASSET: 1c Licavitou st., 10672 Athens – Greece. MEDASSET@hol.gr INTRODUCTION The importance of Lebanon's coasts for sea turtle nesting was discovered in 2001 when a first survey to assess nesting potential was undertaken (Demirayak et al, 2003) within the framework of MEDASSET's ongoing conservation programme in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A further survey of the entire coast took place in 2004 (Kasparek, 2004).

MEDASSET surveys at El Mansouri were conducted in 2002 (Newbury et al, 2002), 2003 (St John et al, 2004) and 2004 (Aureggi et al, 2005) as well as a preliminary monitoring programme at the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR) in 2004 (Aureggi et al, 2005). Results show that there is sparse nesting along parts of the northern coast, scattered on several developed beaches, while southern nesting sites are more important both nationally and regionally.

Southern Lebanon has been under considerable socio-economic strain since the end of the Israeli occupation in 2000. Along a 20 km stretch of coast, near Tyre town, three assessed nesting sites have been deemed important for both Mediterranean nesting species, Caretta caretta (Cc) and Chelonia mydas (Cm): El Mansouri beach (fig.1), El Abbassiyeh beach and Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR).

This paper reports on the results of the 2004 survey at El Mansouri in the context of findings from previous monitoring surveys. A training programme for local participants was also conducted.

The study area (1.4 km) was first described in detail in 2002 (Newbury et al, 2002) (fig.1).

The monitoring programme was conducted daily between 01-05 and 30-09-04 by two people.

Each nest was examined to confirm the presence of eggs. A one-metre square metal grid with 8 x 10 cm mesh size was placed over the egg chamber of each nest. Each grid was secured at the four corners by metal pegs and covered with sand. The metal grid, not visible to beach users, was left until the nest hatched. Six nests considered threatened by natural inundation, agricultural run off or by tourist disturbance were relocated. On the first day of hatchling emergence, nests were excavated. Incubation success rate was assessed by determining hatching success (number of hatched eggs as a proportion of the number of eggs in the nest).

RESULTS During the study period 109 emergences were recorded, of which 49 resulted in nests. The most frequent nesting species was Cc with 43 nests (87.8 %). Cm, with 6 nests, represented 12.2% of nesting effort. Spatial distribution of the 49 nests varied over the 6 sections of beach (Fig.2), with a range of 0-30 nests in each section. Most nests were laid in Sector A (61.2 %) and in Sector F (24.5%).

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Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Conference on the Sea Turtles, Turkey 4-7 May 2005 (in press) Total emergences resulting in nests varied from section to section, showing differences of nesting success rate, but a similar rate was recorded along the entire beach over the three years of the study (Fig.3). The nesting success of emerging Cc on El Mansouri was on average 43.9% in 2004 (range 0 – 66.7%), 47.1% in 2003 (range 36.4 – 100%) and 40.2 % in 2002 (range 0 – 100%). Clutch size of Cc was on average 80 (N=43; range 30 –112) and 122 for Cm (N=5; range 105-143). The hatching success rate for Cc nests in situ was on average 67.2% (range 0 – 95.1; N=37), and 80.2% for relocated nests (range 60.6 – 91.7; N=6).

On the first day of hatching, 42.3 % of eggs hatched and emerged. During excavation 30.8 % of the total eggs were found hatched and alive in the nest. Cc incubation time for nests in situ was on average 51 days (N=40; range 45 – 60) and 48 days for Cm (N=5, range 45 – 55).

DISCUSSION Large annual fluctuations in the number of nests are not uncommon in loggerhead turtle populations in the Mediterranean (Margaritoulis and Rees, 2001). However at El Mansouri the number of total nests per season did not fluctuate significantly between 2002 and 2004, being 37, 33 and 43 respectively. El Mansouri and other nesting sites within a 20 km stretch of coastline probably represent one nesting population, however according to available data, this beach provided the densest nesting of the entire 20km stretch (Aureggi et al, 2005). It is also the only beach where a three-year survey has been conducted.

Cc nesting density at El Mansouri was similar for the three years being 30.7, 23.6 and 26.4 nests/km in 2004, 2003, 2002 respectively. This is similar to Kizilot (Turkey), with 26.0 nests/km on the 5 km beach (Turkozan, 2000).

Along the short stretch of beach, nest distribution was uneven. Sector A hosted most of the nests (Cc and Cm) in 2004. Both species showed a preference for this small stretch of the beach (236 m), which was not the case in previous seasons. On the contrary Sector F showed a decrease in number of nests. This shift could have been due to a more intensive use of the beach in the latter section, which is open to the public. Similar behaviour has been observed at Kazanli, Turkey, where the less frequented eastern part of the beach appears to offer more suitable conditions for nesting turtles (Aureggi, 2001). Sector A is relatively quieter and the impact of light pollution at night lower in comparison with previous seasons (authors’ observation).

In 2004 total Cc emergences resulting in nests was similar to previous seasons, but in 2002 and 2003 the survey did not cover the entire season. This was higher than at nesting sites in Turkey, like Kizilot (31.9%) and Fethiye (26.4%) (Turkozan, 2000).

Substantial differences in clutch size have been observed in Cc colonies throughout the Mediterranean (Margaritoulis et al, 2003), Lebanon clutch size is similar to that of Israel, Tunisia, Turkey and Cyprus whereas average size is smaller than in most Greek nesting sites.

As in other Mediterranean nesting sites (Margaritoulis et al, 2003), incubation duration is short in Lebanon, suggesting a female-biased sex ratio in hatchlings (Godley et al, 2001).

However data for only one season is available from Lebanon, which is insufficient to undertake proper statistical analysis.

Hatching success rate was higher for relocated nests than for in situ nests, as has also been reported at Kizilot in Turkey (Turkozan, 2000), showing that applied conservation strategies

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Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Conference on the Sea Turtles, Turkey 4-7 May 2005 (in press) to relocate nests was successful in El Mansouri. Furthermore, the fact that no nests (with the exception of one) were predated or disturbed by humans during egg incubation, demonstrates the success of individual nest protection strategies applied at the site. However, illegal fishing (with dynamite), tourism development and rubbish on the beaches remain common threats requiring urgent action on all Lebanese nesting beaches, including El Mansouri. Lack of awareness among local people also needs to be addressed.

For security reasons El Mansouri beach was not patrolled at night, so no assistance could be provided to emerging hatchlings. Because of this, nests were excavated on the day after first emergence, to avoid predator attacks on hatchlings over the following nights. Consequently a high percentage (30.8 % of the total number of eggs) of live hatchlings were found in each nest during excavation and released to crawl to the sea. Canid predation has been recorded on this beach (Demirayak et al, 2003) and the number of ghost crabs on the beach seems to increase during the hatching season, (authors’ personal observation) threatening hatchling survival.

Southern Lebanon is the least developed part of the country and has been devastated by the war. There is little tourism development along the coast. Effective protection and management is essential in the region before these pristine beaches are overrun. It is a matter of priority that El Mansouri be given legal protection and defined as a National Park.

REFERENCES Aureggi, M. 2001. Green turtle monitoring programme Kazanli beach, Turkey, 2001. UNEP, Mediterranean Action Plan, Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas – Boulevard de l’Environnement, BP 337 – 1080 Cedex – Tunisie (pdf).

Aureggi, M., C. Rizk, and L. Venizelos. 2005. Survey on sea turtle nesting activity, South Lebanon 2004. MEDASSET and MedWetCoast 35 pp; http://www.medasset.org/pub_db/Results_info.asp?ID=125 Demirayak, F., L. Venizelos, R. Sadek, S. Hraoui, and M. Khalil. 2003. Marine turtle conservation in the Mediterranean: Lebanon: A first survey for Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta in Lebanon. Pages 24-25 in Proceedings of the Twenty-Second Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. (Editor: Seminoff J.A.). NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-503. Miami, USA Godley, B.J., A.C. Broderick and N. Mrosovsky. 2001. Estimating hatchling sex ratios of loggerhead turtles in Cyprus from incubation durations. Marine Ecology Progress Series 210:159-201.

Kasparek, M. 2004. The Mediterranean Coast of Lebanon: Habitat for endangered fauna and flora. Joint effort by the MSC Project funded by the EU, the MEDWETCOAST Project funded by the French GEF, and MEDASSET. 35pp Margaritoulis, D., R. Argano, I. Baran, F. Bentivegna, M.N. Bradai, J.A. Caminas, P. Casale, G. De Metrio, A. Demetropoulos, G. Gerosa, B.J. Godley, D.A. Haddoud, J. Houghton, L. Laurent and B. Lazar. 2003. Loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: Present knowledge and conservation perspectives. Pages 175-198 in Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Editors: Bolten, A.B. and B.E. Witherington), Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

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Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Conference on the Sea Turtles, Turkey 4-7 May 2005 (in press) Margaritoulis, D., and Rees, A. 2001. The Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta caretta, population nesting in Kyparissa Bay, Peloponnesus, Greece: Results of beach surveys over seventeen seasons and determination of the core nesting habitat. Zoology in the Middle East 24:75-90.

Newbury, N., M. Khalil, and L. Venizelos. 2002. Population status and conservation of marine turtles at El-Mansouri, Lebanon. Zoology in the Middle East 27: 47-60.

St John, F., M. Khalil and L. Venizelos. 2004. Marine turtle Conservation in the Mediterranean. Marine turtle nesting in South Lebanon 2003. MEDASSET report 18pp.

Turkozan, O. 2000. Reproductive ecology of loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, on Fethiye and Kizilot beaches, Turkey. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3(4):686-692.

Fig. 1. A plan of El Mansouri from Newbury et al (2002)

2002

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2003

2004

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100 80 60 40 20 0 A

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Fig. 2. Nesting density distribution. Data for 2002 (Newbury et al., 2002); 2003 (St John et al., 2003)

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Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Conference on the Sea Turtles, Turkey 4-7 May 2005 (in press)

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'2003

'2004

100 80 60 40 20 0 A

B

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Fig.3. Nesting success distribution. Data for 2002 (Newbury et al., 2002); 2003 ( St John et al., 2003)

Figure 4. Map of Lebanon

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